Archive for the ‘In the News’ Category

National Women’s Health Week Begins Today

Sunday, May 9th, 2010 by editor

This week is National Women’s Health Week.  During this time, we are being encouraged to “recommit to breaking existing barriers and improving the health of American women for generations to come.”

A proclamation by Barack Obama issued in this press release recommends several steps to help achieve these goals:

  • Lead healthy lives and set an example for your children.
  • Take advantage of preventive care with routine screenings and checkups.
  • Practice simple everyday activities like using sunscreen, exercising regularly, and eating healthy.
  • Emphasize the role of women in promoting the vitality of our children and communities.

The federal government also offers several online resources for promoting the goals of women’s health week, including the Whitehouse Council on Women and Girls, womenshealth.gov, and girlshealth.gov.

Study Shows Racial Disparities in Breast Cancer Treatment

Monday, April 26th, 2010 by editor

A new study shows that black women and uninsured white women have to wait longer for breast cancer treatment and diagnosis.

Researchers at the George Washington University Cancer Institute studied 581 breast cancer patients who were treated at 7 hospitals and clinics between 1997 and 2009.

Findings

Diagnosis: To get a definitive diagnosis, insured black women and uninsured white women had to wait over twice as long.

Insurance: Contrary to the researcher’s expectations, insurance coverage did not even the field.  Insurance coverage was not correlated with quicker diagnosis in black women.

Treatment: After diagnosis, black patients had to wait twice as long as white patients to begin breast cancer treatment.

Plastic Surgery Stats Down, Surgeons Remain Optimistic

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 by editor

Every spring we hear the results of annual surveys from professional associationssurgery_san_francisco like the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, which released 2009 statistics this week. The news always gives us an opportunity to speculate on and discuss nationwide trends in plastic surgery.

The numbers for 2009 show a mere two percent decrease in cosmetic treatments compared to 2008. Given the economic situation in most U.S. markets during 2009, that’s positive news.

Of the nearly 10 million cosmetic procedures performed in the U.S., non-surgical treatments like Botox and Juvederm increased slightly while a moderate (17 percent) decrease was seen in surgical procedures like the tummy tuck, liposuction or breast augmentation. While cosmetic surgeons were surely affected by the recession, many around the country are seeing strong demand return in their communities and are therefore very optimistic.

  • In Virginia, plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Hess says his practice saw an increase of 11.5 percent from 2008 to 2009.
  • In the Pacific Northwest, Seattle plastic surgeon, Dr. Robert Grenley says despite the bump in the road that occured in late 2008 and early 2009, his plastic surgery practice has seen its busiest winter quarter in 24 years. “Patients who desire to have cosmetic surgery are finding a way to have it done” says Dr. Grenley.
  • At Boston Plastic Surgery, Dr. Fouad Samaha says the past few months have brought a “strong resurgence in patient interest and volume that appears to be well ahead of economic indicators.”  Samaha says he believes the resurgence is “testimony to the high level of motivation that people have for self-improvement, feeling better about their appearance, and increasing their self-confidence.”

From the statistics and talking to plastic surgeons, it seems that the latest non-surgical treatments and breast enhancements are the recession-proof offerings keeping doctors busy.

For the Second Year, Breast Augmentation is Top Cosmetic Surgery

For the second year in a row, breast augmentation was the most frequently performed cosmetic surgery, with 311,957 estimated procedures nationwide. Doctors have suggested several reasons for the procedure’s continuing popularity:

In a Wall Street Journal article, Dr. Renato Saltz cites the reintroduction of silicone gel breast implants as a factor pushing breast augmentation procedures to the top. A younger group of patients also appear to be heavily favoring the procedure. For patients 19-34 years old, it was the most chosen surgery, while patients age 35-50 actually chose liposuction more frequently.

More statistics for 2009 will be released in the coming weeks from other professional groups. We look forward to comparing them and continuing this discussion of plastic surgery trends.

Read the ASAPS press release

Breast-Feeding Linked to Reduced Abdominal Fat

Monday, March 8th, 2010 by editor

A new study suggests that consistent breastfeeding may play a role in reducing a woman’s waist circumference, even several years beyond her pregnancy.  Last week, during the American Heart Association conference on cardiovascular health in San Francisco, doctors discussed findings of the study.

Research on 351 women found that those “who consistently breast-fed their children had waist circumferences that were an average of 2.6 inches smaller than women who had never breast-fed.”

Read more on womenshealth.gov

Plastic Surgeon Skeptical of Facial Acupuncture Treatments

Monday, March 1st, 2010 by editor

To temporarily reduce the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles, some people are spending their time and money on acupuncture, the ancient Chinese therapy long believed to bring relief from many physical ailments and emotional imbalances.

In this recent ABC News segment Philadelphia plastic surgeon Dr. Bruce Genter says he’s skeptical about acupuncture for wrinkle treatment, pointing to the lack of supporting scientific evidence for that purpose. Still, some people claim that it works; are they seeing real results or perhaps letting optimism cloud their judgment?

Julia Engstrom, who says she has used Botox and laser treatments in the past, believes facial acupuncture has improved the texture of her skin and reduced the appearance of wrinkles. Nearing the end of 10 treatments, she says her improvements have come through improved sleep and relaxation. “I’ve noticed that my skin is a lot smoother, [there’s] a lot less red pigment in there and the wrinkling seems to be a lot less,” Engstrom said. “I [also] have a lot less darkening under my eyes and I’ve been getting a lot of compliments.”

Acupuncture, a process during which tiny needles are placed strategically into the body, is said to bring improved health and well-being. In an article for Prevention magazine, licensed acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner Phyllis Olson asserts that acupuncture can indeed lessen the appearance of wrinkles. She attributes this to a core premise of acupuncture – that health is reliant upon the healthy flow of chi (energy) in the body, which can be disrupted for a myriad of reasons. Acupuncture treatments are believed to break up energy blockages that prevent optimal blood flow to certain places in the body, improving circulation.

Beata Maslanka, acupuncturist in Philadelphia and author of the “Art of Wellness” acknowledges that acupuncture doesn’t yield visible results that compare to Botox or other facial fillers, but claims that beauty actually comes from within; looking good comes from resolving internal imbalances.

Olson agrees, noting that the treatments foster relaxation of facial muscles, thereby reducing wrinkles. “Aside from the light, momentary stings, acupuncture is really quite relaxing,” she adds.

The results Ms. Engstrom points to are hard to discern from the video, but one can wonder about the salutary effects of relaxation and optimism, not to mention the natural human tendency to see (and believe) what we want to see.

If acupuncture does have a wrinkle-relaxing effect, how long could this last?

NYC dermatologic surgeon Barney Kenet, MD tells Prevention: “If acupuncture relaxes the muscles, it might reduce wrinkling temporarily. As for the increased blood flow, at most it will probably give you a temporary rosy complexion–something you don’t want if you have an inflammatory condition such as acne or rosacea,” he warns. “Otherwise, cosmetic acupuncture is relatively harmless.”

Maybe so, but then you may want to consider the cost of acupuncture. The average price is about $60 to $100 per session, with 10 sessions recommended by Olson, followed by monthly maintenance procedures.

In contrast, the average Botox treatment in the US costs $472 and a single treatment will last 3-6 months. By comparison, this makes acupuncture wrinkle treatments appear costly as well as unproven. Dr. Genter, whose patients are proof that Botox and other facial fillers visibly reduce the effects of aging on the face, says: ”If it increases your well-being that’s great, I just don’t know that it can make your face look younger.”

Before and After Photos Teach Kids About Drug Use

Thursday, January 7th, 2010 by editor

For plastic surgeons, before and after photos are an effective tool for documenting the benefits of cosmetic procedures. But police in California are using the same type of pictures in a different manner; they’re documenting the risks of methamphetamine use.

Using software developed right here in the San Francisco area, police officers are educating young people about the extreme premature aging caused by drug use. For those concerned at all about their appearance, the program could make a considerable impact.

ABC News reports on the program, appropriately called “Face2Face.”

The program takes one step further the anti-meth campaigns instituted in several states that use before and after photographs of real meth addicts to show how the drug ravages not only a person’s health, but also their looks.

Read more on abc news

20/20 Explores Scary World of DIY Cosmetics

Monday, December 7th, 2009 by newseditor

According to this segment from ABC news and 20/20, chemical peels, diy_cosm2botulinum toxin and cosmetic wrinkle fillers are being illegally purchased online – without a prescription or a visit to a physician.

20/20 documents some of the scary experiences of a few women who purchased cosmetic products from a Texas-based website and tried to use them.

The products purchased from “discount medspa”  came in generic packaging and the contents remain somewhat mysterious.  An employee of the site had been marketing the products by posting instructional videos on how to perform do-it-yourself cosmetic procedures.

While it seems like an obvious violation of common sense to attempt these things, stories like this continue to surface in the news.  If you do any reading on RealSelf.com or on the websites of plastic surgeons, you’ll constantly be told to “see a board-certified plastic surgeon” for your treatment.  It may seem redundant, but it appears that people still need to be reminded.

Should the Government Tax Cosmetic Surgery?

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009 by newseditor

Journalists and groups of plastic surgeons have been offering opinions about the proposed elective cosmetic medical tax – a 5 percent charge on procedures like liposuction, rhinoplasty, or breast augmentation – but patients would pay for it.  So why haven’t we heard from them?

Aside from the occasional comment from a patient in San Francisco, we haven’t heard any weigh in with strong opinions about this so-called “Botax.”

So here’s a poll that contains some of the basic arguments for and against the tax; please participate!

Plastic Surgeons Oppose New Elective Procedure Tax

Friday, November 20th, 2009 by newseditor

cosmetic_surgery_taxPlastic surgeons in the U.S. have responded strongly against the proposed elective cosmetic medical tax that was revealed Wednesday, labeling it discriminatory, arbitrary, and ineffective.

Details about the bill are below:

”SEC. 5000B. IMPOSITION OF TAX ON ELECTIVE COSMETIC MEDICAL PROCEDURES.
”(a) IN GENERAL.-There is hereby imposed on any cosmetic surgery and medical procedure a tax equal to 5 percent of the amount paid for such procedure (determined without regard to this section), whether paid by insurance or otherwise.
”(b) COSMETIC SURGERY AND MEDICAL PROCEDURE.-For purposes of this section, the term ‘cosmetic surgery and medical procedure’ means any cosmetic surgery (as defined in section 213(d)(9)(B)) or other similar procedure which-
”(1) is performed by a licensed medical professional, and
”(2) is not necessary to ameliorate a deformity arising from, or directly related to, a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or disfiguring disease.

Statistics on plastic surgery have shown that 86 percent of these elective procedures are purchased by women, and most of them have a yearly income ranging from $30,000 to $90,000 a year.

Thus, many surgeons are calling the tax discriminatory and an unfair imposition on the middle class.

Different Age Groups Perceive Different Beauty

Monday, August 10th, 2009 by newseditor

583028Is it your exercise routine that contributes most to your appearance, or is it cosmetics?  Do you stay beautiful to attract potential partners or to enjoy the increased self-confidence?  Are you more focused on the appearance of your face or your body?

Researchers from the ASAPS and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons set out to answer questions like these. The survey revealed, among other interesting findings, that different age groups perceived beauty in different ways.  ASAPS President Renato Saltz says the survey was intended to help surgeons “understand what patients are most concerned about at different stages of their lives.”

Participants were grouped by age to determine how members of each generation approach physical appearance of the self, and physical appearance of a partner.

Survey respondents in their 20s, 30s, and 40s reported that a “fit, well proportioned body” was what they found most appealing in another person.  When it came to their own physical characteristics, the same group was apparently more concerned about their faces.  The abdomen and hips were said to be areas of significant concern (especially in the 30s), but the breadth of patients said they were most conscious of their facial appearance.

In all age groups, the use of cosmetic procedures ranked fairly high, alongside diet, exercise, and skin care.  Through the link listed below you can easily view the results (in a pdf file) of the Beauty for Life survey.

http://www.surgery.org/private/download/BFLUserSurvey.pdf